Claudia Dudman escapes the ordinary with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the resort of JA Manafaru in The Maldives
After a very early alarm call in Dubai roused me from my bed, we boarded a four-and-a-half-hour flight to the Maldivian capital of Malé, where a seaplane transfer, which was both breathtaking and thrilling, brought us to the tiny island resort of JA Manafaru in The Maldives.
It?s hard to believe that this paradise idyll really exists until you have seen it for yourself. Yes, you?ve browsed the brochure and scanned the website back home, and you yearn for what they both promise: the warmth of the sun?s rays on your skin, the softness of the bleached white sand on your feet, and the dazzling waters of the Indian Ocean, brimming with exotic sea life. But it?s not until you?re being helped off the plane and on to the jetty by the resort?s kindly staff, that you realise your dreams have become reality.  Above, the island?s stunning white beaches
That the Maldives is a holiday destination only for honeymooners is a misconception. In fact, the island nation?s beauty, location and climate has meant that it has long caught the attention of the world?s thrill-seekers, those looking for a relaxed getaway, and families wanting to build a holiday to remember.
Secluded sanctuary
The lush 35-acre island paradise of Manafaru is in Haa Alif, the northernmost atoll of the Maldives. Here, you are nearer India than Malé, but then the closer you are to the island?s capital, the bu...